Every year, thousands of New York drivers — especially in rural areas like the Finger Lakes — face unexpected out-of-pocket costs when a rock, gravel, or debris cracks their windshield. 
 
Even if you carry comprehensive auto insurance, many companies still charge a deductible of $250, $400, or more before they’ll replace it. This forces drivers to either pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket or delay a critical safety repair. 
 
A cracked windshield isn’t just an inconvenience — it reduces visibility, especially at night and in bad weather, and can interfere with the safety cameras and sensors on modern vehicles. 
 
Other states like Florida, Kentucky, and South Carolina have solved this problem with a simple law: insurance companies cannot apply a deductible to windshield replacement under comprehensive coverage. Florida has had this protection since 1979. 
 
New York currently allows insurance companies to offer zero-deductible glass coverage, but it is not required. As a result, many New Yorkers — particularly in rural and agricultural communities — are left paying deductibles for something that should be fully covered. 
 
We are asking the New York State Legislature to pass the Motor Vehicle Windshield Consumer Protection Act, which would require insurers to waive the deductible for windshield damage when a policy includes comprehensive coverage. 
 
This is a common-sense, no-cost consumer protection and road safety measure that would help drivers across New York — especially in upstate and rural areas. 
 
Please join us in urging Senator Thomas F. O'Mara and Assemblymember Philip A. Palmesano to sponsor this important legislation. 
 
Sign this petition and help make windshield replacement affordable and accessible for all New York drivers.